Your Local Epidemiologist
The mayor impacts health through policy, budgetary control, and agency oversight. The mayor appoints the health commissioner and sets priorities on issues like chronic disease, overdose prevention, mental health, vaccines, and emergency preparedness.
A new Covid variant has been detected in international travelers who arrived to New York City airports.
Here's the latest on New York public health from Your Local Epidemiologist New York.
Lead is a heavy metal that was widely used in paint, gasoline, plumbing, and construction until the 1970s. While we’ve stopped using lead in construction, much of it is still around.
A little awareness goes a long way in staying healthy while soaking up the warmer days ahead.
The cases are three unvaccinated kids under 5, according to the state and local health departments. All three cases were linked to international travel and were identified after returning home.
Partly due to climate change, the average allergy season has grown by over three weeks since 1970, with higher pollen counts exacerbating allergies and respiratory conditions.
Low-income kids, pregnant women, babies, adults with disabilities, and many seniors rely on the program.
Two New York City house cats died from bird flu after eating raw pet food, and researchers found the virus survives the aging process in raw milk cheese.
A 4-year-old child recently died from possibly ingesting fentanyl in a Brooklyn shelter.
Children and adults who live near high-traffic areas are disproportionately exposed to air pollution, putting them at greater risk for respiratory conditions.
DOGE abruptly cut funding to a 9/11 first responder health program — only to reverse its decision days later.
A lot is unfolding at the national level, including the recent firing of about 1,300 federal health agency employees. We’re still learning about the impacts of the layoffs, but the direct impacts on New Yorkers are minimal.
Federal changes are happening at lightning speed, and while they may seem high-level or far away, they can have direct and indirect impacts on New Yorkers' health.
In the U.S. public health system, local and state health departments collect and own the data rather than the federal government. With uncertainties surrounding federal data sharing, this provides a sort of firewall.
Since 2011, ICE has not been allowed to arrest people in “sensitive locations,” including hospitals, schools, daycare centers, and places of worship. Last week that policy was revoked.
Navigating and getting care for Long Covid can be overwhelming. However, many New York clinics and hospitals are on the leading edge of understanding and treating it.
Does it feel like everyone around you is sick right now? Number of people with flu is high, and norovirus is surging.
Public health often gets attention when something scary happens. Here are some noteworthy recent accomplishments.
Respiratory viruses will likely increase over the holidays as many of us expand our social connections. But we have several tools to help keep us from getting sick.